JESUS CHALLENGE - PHASE ONE: THE CHARACTER OF JESUS
OUR PURPOSE:
What does it actually look like to be a christian?
To be a christian is to be like Christ. You can't know Jesus, or really be like Jesus, without knowing His character. So think of this as a moment to reset and redefine what and who Jesus is. Our goal is to deepen our relationship with Jesus, and His word, as well as getting to a place of understanding AND applying it to our lives.
We pray that through PHASE ONE you discover who Jesus is and who He says you are.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1. ABIDE IN THE VINE 2. LOVE 3. JOY 4. PEACE 5. PATIENCE 6. KINDNESS 7. GOODNESS 8. FAITHFULNESS 9. GENTLENESS 10. SELF-CONTROL 11. REPENTANCE 12. FORGIVENESS 13. GRATITUDE 14. COURAGE & BOLDNESS 15. GUARD YOUR HEART 16. SERVANTHOOD 17. WHO HE IS 18. WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT YOU 19. GIVING 20. DISCIPLESHIP 21. DWELLING 22. WORSHIP 23. PRAYER 24. READING HIS WORD 25. OBEDIENCE 26. UNOFFENDABLE HEART 27. FOUNDATION 28. SPEAK 29. COMMUNITY 30. BACK TO HIM
1. ABIDE IN THE VINE
DEFINED: 1. To accept or act in accordance with
Jesus is our source of true life and fulfillment. Jesus calls us to abide in him because apart from Him we will become burnt out, weary, and ultimately lifeless. The more time we spend with Jesus, the more life-giving fruit we will produce! The fruit that results from a life of following Jesus is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). All these things come with abiding in Him.
READ: John 15:1-5 (TLV) “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He trims so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. The branch cannot itself produce fruit, unless it abides on the vine. Likewise, you cannot produce fruit unless you abide in Me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
PRAY: God, thank you for showing us how to abide in you. Right now I open my heart to what you want to speak to me. Help me to understand what it means to truly abide in you on a deeper level than I have before. Lord, I know that you correct those you love and I know that you love me, so correct me and help me to identify areas of my life that I need to abide in you in. Place a strong desire in my heart to be more like you. In Jesus name, Amen.
LISTEN: ABIDE - HOUSEFIRES
2. LOVE.
DEFINED: 1. An intense feeling of deep affection 2. God
The greatest commandment is to love God and the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Let's redefine what love means to us: God is love! (1 John 4:8) Love is explained simply for us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (TPT): “Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame or disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”
If God is love he is all of these things explained to us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and replace the word “love” with “God”. Because God is love, we can have confidence that he is all of these things.
Replacing “love” with “God”: “God is large and incredibly patient. God is gentle and consistently kind to all. God refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. God does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate His own importance. God does not traffic in shame or disrespect, nor selfishly seek His own honor. God is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. God joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. God is a safe place of shelter, for He never stops believing the best for others. God never takes failure as defeat, for He never gives up.”
We know that Jesus loves us because he laid down his life for us! (1 John 3:16-18). Now, take a minute to replace the word “love” with your own name. Because God is love, and we are called to be like him, our names should fit in these verses. Of course, no one but God fits all of these things! Reflect on the ways that you love well and the ways that you don’t.
READ: “Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him. The one who doesn’t love has yet to know God, for God is love. The light of God’s love shined within us when he sent his matchless Son into the world so that we might live through him. This is love: He loved us long before we loved him. It was his love, not ours. He proved it by sending his Son to be the pleasing sacrificial offering to take away our sins.” 1 John 4: 7-10 (TPT)
PRAY: Father, help me to see others through your eyes. Help me to love recklessly, the way that you do. Thank you for loving me in my most unlovable times, you are so faithful. Fill me with your love, show me how to love myself the way that you do. Help me to love without expecting anything in return, just as you have loved me. Amen.
LISTEN: LEAN BACK - MAVERICK CITY MUSIC, AMANDA LINDSEY COOK, CHANDLER MOORE
3. JOY.
DEFINED: 1. A feeling of great pleasure and happiness
Joy is defined as an experience or an emotion of great pleasure or delight. Sometimes joy is confused with happiness. Happiness is a temporary feeling based on circumstance, where joy is consistently from the Lord in every situation. We can all agree that we would love to have more joy in our lives! The Bible teaches us that in God’s presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). God Himself dwells in joy (2 Chronicles 16:27). The more time we allow God’s presence to be a part of our lives, and the more we recognize His constant presence with us in all circumstances, the more joy we will experience!
READ: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24.
“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11 (NASB)
“Never stop praying. Always be joyful. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 (NLT)
PRAY: Father, thank you for your presence that is always with me and the joy that comes from being loved by you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can become closer to you and in turn experience a greater joy than I’ve ever known. Show me how to experience joy in times that aren’t normally joyfull. Amen.
LISTEN: JOY - HOUSEFIRES
4. PEACE.
DEFINED: 1. Freedom from disturbance; tranquility
Peace is a gift and a promise from God. Any peace we try to find in the world is fleeting – it doesn’t last when difficult circumstances or conflict come up. But the peace Jesus gives us “transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). This means that even when everything around us looks like chaos, we can still have an internal peace that doesn’t make sense to the world because it’s not of the world!
The Bible not only reveals that peace is a gift and promise from God, but that we are also to “make effort to do what leads to peace” (Romans 14:19), “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14). As followers of Jesus, our lives should be modeled after Him – the Prince of Peace.
READ: “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends all understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.” Philippians 4:6-7 (TPT)
“So then, make it your top priority to live a life of peace with harmony in your relationships, eagerly seeking to strengthen and encourage one another” Romans 14:19 (TPT)
“Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” Psalm 34:14 (NLT)
“The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.” Psalm 29:11 (NLT)
“I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27. (NLT)
PRAY: God, thank you for the gift of peace. Thank you for promising me peace. Reveal any areas of my mind where there is not peace and reveal my actions that aren’t peaceful. Show me how to replace things that are not of peace with peace in my life. You are the Prince of Peace, so show me your ways. Father, help me to be more like you. Amen.
LISTEN: PEACE - BETHEL MUSIC, WE THE KINGDOM
5. PATIENCE.
DEFINED: 1. The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset 2. Endurance
We live in a day where we are not used to waiting for things – fast food, same day deliveries on Amazon, quick-lane check outs at the grocery store, high-speed internet at our fingertips. We like to have control and know the outcome of a situation instantly. Society teaches us to be impatient and to not wait, and when we do have to wait we are taught to get angry and upset. Yet the Bible tells that it is good to wait and that patience brings peace (Proverbs 15:18).
The book of Lamentations in the Bible is a collection of songs written after the invasion and destruction of the city of Jerusalem. Despite the loss, pain, and hopelessness surrounding the situation the author writes, “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25-26)
READ: “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 (NLT)
“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Romans 12:12 (NLT)
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
PRAY: Father, help me to be patient. Help me to see the moments where I am overtaken by stress, uncertainty, or impatience and help me replace them with trust in you. I give you control and trust you to lead my life. Help me to be patient when I don’t understand the way that you’re moving. Be my strength when I lose patience and when I don’t feel like waiting. I know that you are faithful to fulfill your promises to me so I will choose to be joyful and patient in the waiting. Give me opportunities to practice patience. Amen.
LISTEN: MADE A WAY - TRAVIS GREENE
6. KINDNESS.
DEFINE: 1. The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate 2. Selfless, compassionate, and merciful
To be kind is to be considerate, thoughtful, gentle, and generous. Could you describe yourself as kind in all situations? We are called to show kindness because God has shown the greatest kindness to us! Even though we were disobedient (and even enemies of God – Romans 5:10), He still showed kindness to us. As a result of knowing and loving God, we should show kindness to others, even those who we don’t get along with.
READ: “A man of kindness attracts favor, while a cruel man attracts nothing but trouble.” Proverbs 11:17 (TPT)
“Kind words are like honey -- sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8.
“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. ” Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)
PRAY: Father, help me to be kind like you. Strip away any part of me that is mean and replace it with kindness. Give me opportunities to be kind to others, even when they aren’t kind to me. Thank you for your loving kindness that is displayed so evidently towards me. Thank you that even when I am far from you, you still chose to have compassion, love, and gentleness towards me. Renew my heart to be kind to others in all situations. Amen.
LISTEN: YES AND AMEN - HOUSEFIRES
7. GOODNESS.
DEFINED: 1. The quality of being morally good or virtuous 2. An uprightness of heart and life
If you want to have a life that produces good things, you need to fill your heart and mind with good things. To practice goodness in your life think about what you are filling your heart with. Next time you are going to listen to music or watch a movie ask yourself if it is good. Are the
lyrics of that music or the things you are watching in that movie filling your heart and mind with good things or with evil things? If it isn’t good, simply don’t put it in your heart and mind.
Goodness can only come in our lives from the work of God, who is the giver of all good things. Goodness is first about the condition of our heart, and then leads to outward actions of good deeds. How do we have a good heart? We pursue a relationship with the One who is goodness Himself (Matthew 19:17). Our lives will result in goodness (character, virtue, integrity, pleasure) as we think and act more and more like the Giver of all good things.
READ: “For the Lord is always good and ready to receive you. He’s so loving that it will amaze you -- so kind that it will astound you! And he is famous for his faithfulness toward all. Everyone knows our God can be trusted, for he keeps his promises to every generation!” Psalm 100:5 (TPT)
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” Psalm 34:8 (TPT)
“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 (NLT)
“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.” Matthew 12:35
PRAY: Father, transform my heart to be more like yours, fill my heart with goodness that produces good things. Thank you for giving me a new heart and new ways of thinking. Help me to guard my heart and mind from things that aren’t good. Amen.
LISTEN: GOOD GOOD FATHER - CHRIS TOMLIN
8. FAITHFULNESS.
DEFINED: 1. Loyal, constant, and steadfast
God is the purest example of faithfulness. He loves us no matter what we do (Psalm 136). He is always there for us, and He will never leave us. (Deuteronomy 31:6). Wow! It is crazy to think that even when we mess up, even when we are at our lowest, He remains faithful.
There is a story in the Bible about a man named Abraham who was married to a woman named Sarah. Sarah was unable to have children but they wanted kids so badly! God had promised them that he would give them a son, but Abraham and Sarah doubted God because they were so old they didn’t think that it was physically possible. Because they doubted God’s promise, they tried to take control of the situation. Abraham and Sarah decided that Abraham should sleep with their servant so that him and Sarah could have a son. So, Abraham impregnated Hagar (their servant) and they had a son. Years later, God still came through with his promise to give Sarah and Abraham a son even though they weren’t faithful and didn’t trust him. This is just one of many examples where we see God’s faithfulness in the Bible.
READ: Genesis 21:1-3 (NLT) “The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. And Abraham named their son Isaac.”
Lamentations 3: 22-23 “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.”
PRAY: Father, thank you for your faithfulness to me. Thank you for your faithful love that endures forever. Reveal the gifts and talents that you have given me and teach me how to use them for your glory. Give me wisdom in learning how to draw nearer to you. Help me to be faithful when I am feeling unfaithful to you. Give me practical ways to know you more. Amen.
LISTEN: PROMISES - MAVERICK CITY MUSIC
9. GENTLENESS.
DEFINED: 1. Having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character
Exhibiting gentleness means being kind, tender, humble, and patient. Being seen as “gentle” can sometimes have a negative implication in our culture today. But, gentleness is a characteristic of Jesus (Matthew 11:29), and life-giving trait that will transform your relationship with others as you act more like Him.
READ: Matthew 11:29 (TPT), Isaiah 40:11 (NLT), 1 Timothy 6:11 (NASB), Colossians 3:12 (NLT).
“Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.” Matthew 11:29 (TPT)
“He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” Isaiah 40:11 (NLT)
“But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:11 (NASB)
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 (NLT)
“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” Zechariah 9:9
“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” Ephesians 4:2
PRAY: Father, thank you for being kind, tender, and gentle with me rather than harsh or violent. Give me strength to be gentle when I want to react in a rough way. Change my perspective to see gentleness the way that you see it. I thank you that gentleness is a strength and not a weakness. Thank you for showing me what gentleness really is. Amen.
LISTEN: MY SOUL SINGS - MAVERICK CITY MUSIC, DANTE BOWE
10. SELF-CONTROL.
DEFINED: 1. The ability to control oneself, in particular ones emotions and desires or the expression of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations.
Self-control is the ability to manage our actions, feelings, and emotions. Living in self-control means that you can say “no” to the things you know you need to say “no” to and have patience in your reactions. This is important for us as followers of Jesus because we represent who He is! The Bible tells us that we are Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). Self-control is a gift of the Spirit because we cannot do it on our own strength, but by the strength that God provides for us to act more and more like Jesus. Even Jesus was tempted like we are! (Matthew 4:1) But, every time He was tempted, Jesus practiced self-control perfectly! We can look to him as an example of this.
READ: Proverbs 25:28 (TPT), Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT), 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NLT).
“If you live without restraint and are unable to control your temper, you’re as helpless as a city with broken-down defenses, open to attack.” Proverbs 25:28 (TPT)
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT)
“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NLT)
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:3
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
PRAY: Father, help me to have self control in all situations. Thank you for giving me strength to control my emotions and reactions. Help me respond to temptation the way that Jesus would. Give me the strength to say “no” to temptation. Help me identify trustworthy people in my life that can help hold me accountable. Amen.
LISTEN: NOT MY OWN - UNITED PURSUIT, WILL REAGAN
11. REPENTANCE.
DEFINED: 1. Sincere regret or remorse 2. A complete change of direction, toward God
Repentance means to turn from sin. The Greek word metanoia, sometimes used for repentance in the New Testament, means “to change your mind.” When we repent we recognize our sin (our wrongdoings) and turn from those ways. We change our mind to act in the opposite way. The amazing thing with repentance is that God is always faithful and kind to forgive us from our sin and replace our guilt with righteousness. God calls us to repent so that we can live a life free from the bondage and pain that sin places on us, and to live in right-standing with him.
READ: 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT), 1 John 1:8-9 (TPT)
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)
“But if we freely admit our sins when his light uncovers them, he will be faithful to forgive us every time. God is just to forgive us our sins because of Christ, and he will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we boast that we have no sin, we’re only fooling ourselves and are strangers to the truth.” 1 John 1:8-9 (TPT)
“…God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.” Romans 2:4
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” Matthew 14:17.
PRAY: Father, reveal all the areas of sin in my life. I am so sorry for my wrongdoings, right now I chose to turn from them. I receive your forgiveness, I rebuke the devil from holding me in sin. I chose to replace this sin with your love for me. Thank you for forgiving me, continue to reveal areas of my life that need repentance. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Amen.
LISTEN: NO BONDAGE - JUBILEE WORSHIP
12. FORGIVENESS.
DEFINED: 1. The act or process of forgiving or being forgiven 2. To stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake
“So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” Luke 17:3-4 (NLT)
God’s story with humanity is marked by forgiveness. Jesus came so that our sins can be forgiven and have right-standing with God. We have all done wrong towards God at one point in our life through sin, yet when we repent He forgives us of our sins because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. God made a way for us to be right with Him despite our wrong doing. We are called to forgive others in the same way! No matter how many times someone does something wrong towards us, or how bad it is, we are called to show them unconditional forgiveness. This means that we don’t harbor bitterness, anger, or resentment towards them. Forgiving others as Jesus forgave us means that we choose to love that person despite how they have treated us or continue to treat us.
READ: Daniel 9:9 (NLT), Matthew 18:21-22 (NLT), Colossians 3:13 (TPT).
“But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.” Daniel 9:9 (NLT)
“Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sings against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:21-22 (NLT)
“Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them.” Colossians 3:13 (TPT)
PRAY: Father, thank you for the unconditional forgiveness you have shown me. Reveal areas of unforgiveness in my heart and cover them with your divine love. I know that you have forgiven me, so help me to be more like you by helping me forgive others. Amen.
LISTEN: HOLY WATER - WE THE KINGDOM, TASHA COBBS LEONARD
13. GRATITUDE
DEFINED: 1. The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness 2. The Bible tells us in Psalm 22:3 that God is enthroned on our praises! That means when we give thanks it not only glorifies and honors God, but it welcomes in His presence. The Bible also tells us that in God’s presence there is fullness of joy. When we give thanks, it brings joy in the presence of God. Thanksgiving is a weapon against depression, heaviness, and weariness. No matter what our circumstances, we always have something to be thankful for. God’s will for us is to have gratitude in all circumstances. When we give thanks to Him, in the good times and the bad, we receive joy and breakthrough.
READ: Psalm 100, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (TPT)
“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalm 100 (NLT)
“And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (TPT)
“Let everyone give all their praise and thanks to the Lord! Here’s why -- he’s better than anyone could ever imagine. Yes, he’s always loving and kind, and his faithful love never ends.” Psalm 107:1 (TPT)
PRAY: God, thank you for who you are. You are so worthy of gratitude and praise. Thank you for all that you’ve done for me. Help me to express my gratitude to you in all circumstances. In Jesus name, Amen.
LISTEN: HOLY SPIRIT (WE LOVE YOU) - UPPERROOM, JOEL FIGUEROA
14. COURAGE & BOLDNESS.
DEFINED: 1. Courage - the ability to do something that frightens one or strength in the face of pain or grief 2. Boldness - willingness to take risks and act innovatively; confidence or courage
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
“This is my command -- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NLT)
“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” 1 John 4:18 (NLT)
When we receive the forgiveness and love of Christ, we are given a new spirit – a spirit not of fear or timidity, but of courage and boldness. Believing that God loves us perfectly and that He is in control removes fear and discouragement. As followers of Jesus, he calls us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel…” (Mark 16:15). In order to share the good news of Jesus with others, we need to receive the boldness and courage that comes from the Holy Spirit. Our confidence is knowing who we are as adopted and beloved children of God, and that His perfect love covers us in all we do.
READ: Isaiah 41:10 (NLT), Matthew 14:27 (NLT), Acts 1:8 (NLT). “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
“But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Matthew 14:27 (NLT)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere -- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)
PRAY: Father, give me a supernatural boldness in sharing the gospel with others. Give me courage when facing things that I am afraid of. Thank you for promising to be with me! I know that you have not given me a spirit of fear, you have given me a spirit of power and love. Help me to have a deeper desire to know you more. Make me passionate about sharing the gospel. Amen.
LISTEN: HE KNOWS MY NAME - TASHA COBBS
15. GUARD YOUR HEART.
DEFINED: 1. Watch over in order to protect or control 2. Protect against damage or harm
Our hearts guide our words, thoughts, and actions. The Bible teaches us that our hearts can be “deceitful”, and “desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9). Because of this, we need to guard our hearts. Think of this in the same way you would guard something that is valuable to you. You take care of your most important things by protecting them from theft, dirt, getting broken, etc. In the same way, we need to protect our heart from the destruction of the enemy and things that are not of God. Do this by speaking over yourself and believing for yourself the things that the Lord says of you and has promised you.
READ: Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Psalm 19:14 “So may the words of my mouth, my meditation-thoughts, and every mom
PRAY: Father, I thank you that you are my protector, the one who guides me into truth and life. God, reveal the areas of my life where I have compromised. I repent of any area where I have let the enemy influence me to do things I know I shouldn’t have done. I receive your forgiveness, and I thank you for making me bold, courageous, and full of unwavering faith. I believe what you have said about me. Amen.
LISTEN: HAVE MY HEART - MAVERICK CITY MUSIC
16. SERVANTHOOD.
DEFINED:
1. A devoted and helpful follower or supporter. 2. Loving acts performed in the power of the Holy Spirit to meet the temporal and spiritual needs of those around us. 3. Someone who performs work or tasks for another person.
Our love for God is expressed in the way we love and serve others. Even Jesus, the perfect being, literally sat at the feet of other people (John 13:1-17), washing them as an act of service and love. In this time, only servants washed feet, it is a great act of humility and lowliness.He didn’t come to be served, but to serve others. Serving others, is the very essence of following Jesus. Servanthood leads back to the fruits of the spirit.
To serve other people means to humble oneself and put the good of others before yourself, where your actions aren’t pursued out of selfish ambition. A servant is devoted, or surrenders, all they are to simply love, and deliver the goodness and grace of God. Sometimes servanthood looks like stepping up to joyfully do the work no one else wants to do, or reaching out to those that are different or that seem too far gone. When we submit to serving God, it brings freedom in ourselves, but most importantly in others.
READ: Mark 20:28 (TPT) “But this is not your calling. You will lead by a completely different model. The greatest among you will live as the one who is called to serve others, because the greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one with the heart of a servant. For even the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come expecting to be served by everyone, but to serve everyone, and to give his life in exchange for the salvation of many.”
PRAY: Dear God, bring me opportunities to serve wholeheartedly. Please reveal areas of my life that I am living with selfish ambition without realizing, I want to turn away from that, and live more like you! I thank you for being the perfect example of what a servant is, and for selflessly lying down your life for mine. I receive your wisdom, and I soften my heart to learn from you. Amen.
LISTEN: ALL MY LOVE - UNITED PURSUIT
17. WHO HE IS.
Throughout our lives, we have framed a perspective of who we believe our Heavenly Father to be, and what we believe He says about us. Maybe you don’t know your earthly dad, so you think a father is distant. Maybe your dad was mean, so you think the Lord is just as aggressive or abusive. Or maybe you had a wonderful father, so it’s easy to see God as wonderful. You see, these perceptions may have damaged or built your view of the Lord, but now it’s time to really bring it back to the Bible. Our Heavenly Father is a comforter, a giver, our provider, our hope, our joy, our strength, He is love, He is all things good.
COMFORTER: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (TPT) “All praises belong to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For He is the Father of tender mercy and the God of endless comfort. He always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial. We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us.”
LOVE: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) “Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame or disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat for it never gives up”
GIVER: John 3:16 (TPT) “For this is how God loved the world- he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life.”
He gave everlasting life, freedom, peace, wisdom, and faith to all who accept that gift.
PROVIDER: Philippians 4:19 (TPT) “I am convinced that my God will fully satisfy every need you have, for I have seen the abundant riches of glory revealed to me through the Anointed One, Jesus Christ!”
HOPE: Romans 15:13 (ESV) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
JOY: Psalm 16:11 (ESV) “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
STRENGTH: Psalm 73:26 (NLT) “My heart may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”
READ: Each verse next to the characteristics of who He is.
PRAY: Dear God, please help me have fresh eyes and a renewed heart to see you for who you really are. I don’t want my worldly experiences to become my perspective of who you are. You are my comforter, my peace, my provider, my hope, my joy, my strength, you are love and a giver. Ask the Lord for fresh eyes and a renewed heart to understand and see who He truly is.
LISTEN: ANOTHER IN THE FIRE - HILLSONG UNITED
18. WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT YOU.
Identity. This is a scary word to most people because it can be so difficult to understand who we were created to be, when the world around us has produced so many different expectations and standards. There is so much insecurity and uncertainty when we place the power of our identity in the world’s hands, but when it is placed into the hands of the one who CREATED us, there is stability, confidence, and freedom. When we have Him dwelling in our lives, who He is becomes who we are.
YOU ARE CHOSEN: - Genesis 1:27 (ESV) - John 3:16 (TPT)
YOU ARE MADE NEW: - Romans 6:6 (ESV) - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
YOU ARE ONE WITH HIM: - Romans 8:39 - Psalm 139:4 (ESV)
READ: Verses from above.
PRAY: Father, help me to see who you have created me to be. I am tired of striving to meet the standards of society, and I am ready to live confidently in You! Show me what I have been created for, show me my gifts, strengths and weaknesses, and help me to understand that it all comes from you! I repent for the times where I looked at myself and wasn’t happy with your creation. God you are the perfect creator, You know me so well. I thank you for placing a new boldness and confidence in me that will push me to step out into what you designed for me.
LISTEN: BEAUTY FOR ASHES + YOU’RE GOOD - UPPERROOM
19. GIVING.
DEFINED: 1. providing love or other emotional support; caring 2. to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation 3. The true spirit of giving is doing for others with no expectation of gain
Our giving is an expression of faith, ownership and discipleship. We are not called to only give back monetarily, but in all things, giving to the Lord through obedience and praise. As well as unto others through love, joy, and servanthood.
TITHE: We are called to tithe (give 10%) the FIRST of what we make. When you give first, it takes faith. When you give last, there’s no faith involved. If your income is $100 then you are commanded to give only $10!! It cannot be replaced with giving your time or talents. Tithing is an act of obedience that teaches us to be good stewards of what God has given us. His word even says that when we give, we are filled with an uncontainable joy!!
OFFERING: An offering is anything given beyond your tithe, but not in the place of it. This includes giving cash offering to your church above and beyond the tithe, giving money to a charity you support, providing something to a family or friend in need, or giving of your time and talents. Giving this way is also important because it helps to truly cultivate a character of love, servanthood and hope.
Giving, especially tithing, is so vital because it softens the hearts of believers by freeing our souls from dependence on money! It teaches us how to put God first, and live a selfless lifestyle, bringing joy, peace, rest and freedom!
READ: Proverbs 3:9-10 “Glorify God with all your wealth, honoring Him with your very best, with every increase that comes to you. Then every dimension of your life will overflow with blessings from an uncontainable source of inner joy!”
PRAY: Jesus, soften my heart so giving and tithing doesn’t feel like a burden or religious obligation. I want to give because I have seen you give. I want to give because you deserve all I am and all I have. I want to give because I love you and I love those around me. Jesus, I don’t want money or possessions to control me, I want to live for more than myself. Give me opportunities to give to others and to my church. I thank you for giving me life and freedom, and I thank you for meeting all my needs!
LISTEN: I’LL GIVE THANKS - HOUSEFIRES
20. DISCIPLESHIP.
DEFINED: 1. One who accepts and assists in spreading the Gospel. 2. The disciple of Christ is to become like Christ in everything.
Being comes before doing. We have to be a disciple, before we can begin to disciple other people.
Discipleship builds humility. Biblical counsel from pastors, friends or family is what the Lord uses to help build protection and wisdom. To gain greater understanding, we have to accept that we don’t always know it all. Advice from others who follow the Lord, is a great way to learn and grow.
Discipleship creates unity. We aren’t designed to just meet on Sundays and then have nothing to do with each other for the rest of the week. God’s word shows us the importance of doing life together. Discipleship is an amazing way to invite others into your life.
Discipleship prepares us for faithfulness. In Titus 2 Paul tells us the importance and need for men and women to help lead others in the character that is consistent with Godliness. We can’t follow this commandment unless we are willing to be discipled and disciple others.
READ: Acts 2:44-47 “All the believers were in fellowship as one body, and they shared with one another whatever they had. Out of generosity they even sold their assets to distribute the proceeds to those who were in need among them. Daily they met together in the temple courts and in one another’s homes to celebrate communion. They shared meals together with joyful hearts and tender humility. They were continually filled with praises to God, enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were coming to life.”
PRAY: Lord, give me eyes to see someone in my life that can help lead me and disciple me. I pray that I begin to become more aware of those that need guidance and discipleship, and give me the wisdom and authority to speak into their lives, and lead them closer to you. I thank you for growing me in humility, unity and faithfulness. I want to live my life fully surrendered to you.
LISTEN: COME AND TEAR DOWN THE WALLS - COMMON HYMNAL
21. DWELLING
DEFINED: 1. The definition of a dwelling is a shelter (such as a house) where someone lives. 2. To dwell on something means to “live in” or constantly think of that certain thing.
1. PUT GOD IN CONTROL In society, people crave control because they find their power in it, but when your power comes from a more sustainable source (Jesus) then it becomes simpler to let go of control. When someone does something to us, or something happens to us that is out of our control we can choose to take all the weight from it, grow hate from it and let it totally consume your thoughts. OR because of Jesus, we can lay those situations down at His feet, and in turn receive rest and peace of mind due to our trust in Him, that He will bring any experience to fullness, and every lie about us to truth.
2. LIVING IN IT OR LEARNING FROM IT There is a difference between dwelling on something and letting it overtake you vs. dwelling on something with the intent to deeply understand it and grow from it. The past is great to look back at for a moment, using it as an example to grow and learn from. When we look at something with the intent to truly learn from it, then we will have more freedom to move forward. But, if you allow yourself to focus so much on what happened, with thoughts about things you wish were different or things you wish could be once again, you are cheating yourself out on an amazing opportunity to be completely lavished by the promises the Lord is trying to reveal to you in the now, and in the future.
3. WE HAVE POWER & AUTHORITY AGAINST THE WORLD’S CORRUPTION Jesus did not tell the disciples to worry or feel hurt or become hindered. He told them to keep moving..we only have that kind of strength with Jesus. We cannot fight our battles on our own. Dwell in what Jesus says and has for you..not what the world says about you. The Lord has CHOSEN to dwell in us and now it is our turn to choose to constantly dwell and trust in Him.
READ: John 15:4 (TPT) “So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine.
PRAY: Holy Spirit I pray that you fill me up. I repent of my sins that have withheld me from the overflowing Presence of you dwelling in me. I want to dwell in you and what you have for me, not the things of this world. Fill me up with your presence and power.
LISTEN: OVER AND OVER - VERTICAL WORSHIP
22. WORSHIP
Some of our biggest “AHA!” moments can come from corporate worship at an event or Sunday morning service, (which is great), but worship is more than just music! Worship is a life set apart for the Lord. It is an amazing opportunity to be able to praise Him in every area of our lives.
As believers, everything about us should become instruments of righteousness. This means that our actions, thoughts and desires should bring glory to God!! We offer our lives as a sacrifice of worship by living in holiness and doing all that delights His heart. Yes, He loves the songs of praise, but making worship a lifestyle is what truly living for Him means. Worship is our surrender!! It is impossible to worship God and anything else at the same time. One example of surrendering could be as simple as kneeling or raising your hands during corporate praise on a sunday morning. In this moment you step into this necessary attitude of humility, publicly showing that you give Him the room to move.
READ: Psalm 150:2 “Praise Him for His miracles of might! Praise Him for His magnificent greatness!”
Romans 12:1-2 “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.”
PRAY: Lord take away any idols I may have placed above You whether it be school, sports, friends, or relationships and replace it with your fullness. I pray for a deeper level of humility, and adoration of you. You deserve all my praise and all the Glory. Let my life be a sacrifice of worship. I love you, and I pray that all I do delights your heart.
LISTEN: I WILL NOT FEAR - JESUS CULTURE
23. PRAYER.
Prayer is one of the most beautiful and intimate things about following Jesus. Daily conversations with the Lord, help push us into who we were created to be. They develop deeper relationship with the Father, giving us the ability to touch His heart, while it permeates within us.
Prayer doesn’t always have to be you sitting in a room, with your head bowed and eyes closed. Prayer can happen anywhere you are. If you’re constantly in conversation with God, it shows that you’re fully committed to the responses and promises our Heavenly Father offers.
You may be thinking “well if He knows everything about me, then He already knows what I need, so I don’t need to pray about it.” But that is the enemy, trying to weaken your bond with the Lord! When we pray, we humble ourselves before the Lord, showing that we trust Him and want to hear from Him. Prayer is not just some religious obligation, it is our weapon in war on earth! When we allow prayer to be just religion based, we aren’t focused any longer on the heart of God, but the thoughts of other people.
It is more than just words spoken, prayer is a heart posture that says “Our Jesus is my best friend, and I want to talk to Him about every area of my heart and life, with true faith that He can strengthen me and others from it.”
READ: 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
1 John 5:14-15 “Since we have this confidence, we can also have great boldness before Him, for if we ask anything agreeable to His will, He will hear us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we also know that we have obtained the requests we ask of Him.”
PRAY: Dear God, I pray for a heart that is softened to hear your voice, one which desires to speak to you. I want you to know that I trust you with my past, present and future. I am sorry for not making my time with you a priority. I repent for placing the conversations and words of others above you. I thank you that I can come to you any time, about anything, with no judgment or shame. Thank you for loving me better than anyone else ever could!
LISTEN: AVAILABLE - ELEVATION WORSHIP
24. READING HIS WORD.
The Bible contains God’s will for our lives! The Bible is inspired by God himself, containing His word, His wisdom, His love, His guidance, His power. There aren’t specific verses made out to us individually naming our future spouse or job, but when we align ourselves with His Word, we are able to have greater insight into what He does or doesn’t want for your life.
The Bible is our nourishment! Just as our bodies need daily nourishment to thrive and survive, so do our spiritual lives. We need to be alive and awake spiritually to inherit His will. God’s Word is a source of life to all who read it and believe it. It holds infinite wisdom and guidance. When it is read with a Spirit of faith, you will see evident growth in your life.
The Bible gives us insight! Our natural human judgement is often misled by personal emotions, opinions or experiences, that it can be easy to become confused and deceived by things that go against God’s perfect will. But, the word of God separates all self-seeking in our lives and makes known what is righteous and true. God’s Word divides and brings acknowledgement to our own will vs. God’s. With His word we can discern right from wrong.
The Bible contains power to overcome! The Bible is our weapon to overcome in the midst of temptation. Even after making the decision to live for Jesus, we will continue to face trials and temptation. Jesus himself was tempted by Satan in the Bible, and the way He overcame it was by using scripture to fight the battle (Matthew 4:1-11)
READ: John 6:63 (ESV) “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
Hebrews 4:12 (TPT) “For we have the living word of God, which is full of energy, like a two-mouthed sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.”
PRAY: Lord I desire a greater hunger to read your word, and for a greater understanding while reading your word. Help me to understand it easily and apply it to my life. I don’t want to take the Bible for granted, and not make it a priority. I am sorry for any time I may have lived as if it weren’t enough. Help me, God!
LISTEN: AGNUS DEI (SPONTANEOUS) - LIFE WORSHIP
25. OBEDIENCE.
DEFINED: 1. to hear, submit, trust and surrender to God and His word.
Let’s be honest, “obedience” and “commandments” may not be the most attractive words to the world, but with Jesus they are meant to be joyful!! We learn through the life of Jesus that believers are called to live in obedience. Obedience is not perfected overnight, it is a lifelong process we choose to endure.
Here are a few examples as to why obedience to the Lord’s commandments are important and biblical: - It is part of our calling! As followers of Jesus, we want to follow Him and His example, but this includes His commandments! Our motivation for obedience is love! (John 14:15) - It is an act of worship! The Bible places strong emphasis on obedience, but it is vital to remember that we are not saved or made righteous by good works or obedience. Salvation is a gift from God that we choose to accept, and obedience is our thanks to Him for that freedom!! (Romans 12:1) - It demonstrates our faith! When you follow someone's rules joyfully it’s probably because you genuinely think they are for everyone’s benefit. So, when you obey the Lord, it says Jesus I trust you. I trust your will and your ways, for I know they are far greater than my own. We can truly say we live in intimacy with Jesus by walking in His footsteps. (1 John 2:3-6) - It brings us one step closer to Jesus! Only Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, consistently walking in obedience to the Father. As we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us within, we grow in Holiness. The more we read His word and follow His ways, the closer we are to Him and His righteousness.
READ: John 14:15; Romans 12:1; 1 John 2:3-6
PRAY: I pray for the perspective of joy and thankfulness when it comes to obeying you, God. I ask you to show me areas I should be obeying and following you more closely. God give me opportunities to follow your commands, and help me remember that you never set commandments or rules to just control me or hurt me, but they are there to love and protect me. Soften my heart to see things the way you see them.
LISTEN: VICTORY - JUBILEE WORSHIP
26. UNOFFENDABLE HEART.
DEFINED: 1. Incapable of being offended
Have you ever found yourself replaying conversations in your head, rethinking what you would have said to the other person? Then the truth is, you probably were carrying some offense. There are four main indicators that reveal to us if we are offended or holding a grudge against someone: dwelling on your offense, avoiding the person who offended you, being critical of the person who offended you, becoming an expert on how everyone should live.
When you become offended, it is time to identify what needs to be forgiven and begin to actively pursue that forgiveness for them through a heart of love. An offended heart is a critical heart, and the only way to release this heart posture of offense, is by covering those people in love, mercy and forgiveness. The unoffendable heart is a heart of forgiveness lived out. Unforgiveness creates resentment, bitterness, pain, anger and emotional damage.
In Hebrews 12:15, Paul explains to us that bitterness is like a root. The longer it is allowed to grow, the more difficult it is to tear out. And the growth and deepening of this root will produce the fruit of ungratefulness, revenge, mistrust and depression.
Forgiveness is acknowledging that the sin or offense that happened may have been painful and wrong, but it gives the right of justice over to the Lord so He can handle it, His way, in His time. As we free the offender through forgiveness, we free ourselves from the effects of holding onto it.
READ: Proverbs 17:9 “Love overlooks the mistakes of others, but dwelling on the failures of others devastates friendships.”
Colossians 3:13-14 “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
PRAY: God, I have been so hurt by _____. Father, help me to forgive that person and others that have hurt and offended me. I pray that you bless them and keep them safe. I pray that your mercy and love would pour over them God. Help me to live unoffended.
LISTEN: SOUND OF HEAVEN - JUBILEE WORSHIP
27. FOUNDATION.
DEFINED: 1. a basis upon which something stands or is supported 2. Our foundation is what we rely on, rest on, build on and find our identity and fullness on.
If right now you find your identity based on what others think of you, then you will be insecure. If you find your acceptance within getting high or drunk at parties then you’ll end up feeling lost and confused. If your hope comes and goes based on the situation you will become anxious and broken. A life built on the instability of this world will come crashing down everytime the “waves” come.
BUT when our lives are founded on His word, His promises and His ability, then the core of who we are and what we live for cannot be as easily taken down or shaken.
When Jesus is our foundation, the storms will come, but they will always pass.
READ: Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone who hears my teaching and applies it to his life can be compared to a wise man who built his house on an unshakable foundation. When the rains fell and the flood came, with fierce winds beating upon his house, it stood firm because of its strong foundation. But everyone who hears my teaching and does not apply it to his life can be compared to a foolish man who built his house on sand. When it rained and rained and the flood came, with wind and waves beating upon his house, it collapsed and was swept away.”
PRAY: Jesus I want to build my life on you, and not the standards, opinions and thoughts of this world! I want my joy, hope, purpose and identity to all come from you. Holy Spirit I pray for strong faith and courage to rise up within me. I am aware that the world will not like me for loving Jesus, but I no longer live for the world. I live for you.
LISTEN: GRAVES INTO GARDENS - ELEVATION WORSHIP
28. SPEAK.
DEFINED: 1. say something in order to convey information, an opinion, or a feeling.
The words we speak have such great power and force behind them. The Bible tells us how much power is actually behind our tongue. When God was creating the Earth He literally spoke and it all came to be. When Jesus was performing miracles, He calmed storms, and healed bodies and transformed hearts through speaking.
In Proverbs 10 we can find that there are certain characteristics in believers that should be evident through the words we speak….
- Fountain of Life: Proverbs 10:11 - Insightful lips: Proverbs 10:13 - Bites his tongue: Proverbs 10:19 - Pure silver: Proverbs 10:20 - Nourishing many (multiply mercy): Proverbs 10: 21 - Brings wisdom: Proverbs 10:31 - Righteousness: Proverbs 10:32
Both life and death can be produced, simply by the words we choose to speak over ourselves over others, and against the things of this world.
READ: Matthew 17:20 “He told them, “It was because of your lack of faith. I promise you, if you have faith inside of you no bigger than the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move away from here and go over there’, and you will see it move! There is nothing you couldn’t do!”
Proverbs 18:20-21 “Sharing words of wisdom is satisfying to your inner being. It encourages you to know that you’ve changed someone else’s life—Your words are so powerful that they will kill or give life, and the talkative person will reap the consequences”
PRAY: Holy Spirit, because you dwell in me, I carry life in my words. Renew my mind and heart daily, so that all that flows from my lips brings you praise. I pray for wisdom in the words to either speak or withhold, and I ask for a deeper level of faith to “move mountains.” Thank you Jesus that your power lives in me. Thank you for ALWAYS speaking life over me and my situations.
LISTEN: FILL THE ROOM - MAVERICK CITY MUSIC
29. COMMUNITY.
DEFINED: 1. a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Comfort, accountability, friendship, wisdom, opportunities, testing and joy are some things we find within the community. We were never intended to live in isolation. When Adam was created, God brought someone to live life with Him. We are our best selves when we experience the highs and lows of life with other believers! Community is encouraging. Everyone has something they can teach or learn, so when we are surrounded by people through all walks of their faith and all ages, it creates the perfect opportunity to be a friend, teacher or student. Ultimately it comes down to lifting one another up, learning from each other and being the friend each of us need. Community attracts the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 18:20, it says that the Holy Spirit is present whenever two or more gather together. In the early church of Acts, we see in the Bible that it made a commitment to meet together, gather together, and worship together, and because of this “the Lord added to their number daily to those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47
It might be difficult for you to commit to community if you prefer solitude or if you are too guarded, but community is God’s desire for us!! Yes, living in community can look like going to church, but it is even deeper than just that! We need to live it out daily, through small groups, developing friendships and learning by the actions of other believers.
At the end of the day, when we grow in relationship with others, we grow in relationship with Him. We aren’t perfect and we aren’t Jesus, so those around us help show the areas of the Lord we might not be carrying, bringing us all together as one body.
READ: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
PRAY God help me to be courageous in stepping out of my comfort zone, and into community. You tell me it is your desire for me, and I want to honor that. I might struggle, but I know that with you it is possible. Guard my heart from temptation, comparison, envy and anger. Thank you Lord.
LISTEN: THE BLESSING - KARI JOBE
30. BACK TO HIM.
In the book of Luke, there is a story of 10 men with leprosy. They had nothing left to live for, shunned from their towns and families, sitting there waiting to die. One day they saw Jesus walking so they cried out to Him for mercy and healing. Right here we see that these guys were at complete rock bottom, with their own strength gone, they knew Jesus was the only way. They go to Jesus in the bad, instead of blaming Him for the bad.
To be declared healed, the Jewish priests had to examine your body so you could be brought back into the town and go to the temples. So, the Lord tells them to go to the Jewish priests to be examined, so they all got up and went on their way with so much faith. On the way there, all the men were healed from the Leprosy. PRAISE GOD!!
Here’s the catch...only ONE man went back to thank Jesus. It says that this man fell onto His knees, declaring over and over that He believed Jesus to be the Messiah! Jesus tells the man to arise and go, because his faith brought Him healing AND salvation!
The Lord wants to heal and save us from so many things, but we have to choose to go back to him in faithfulness and thankfulness, time after time. This goes for all believers, no matter how long you have or haven’t been walking with the Lord.
When something is away from its power source for too long, it eventually runs out of energy to keep going. He is the source of all we need. Go back to Him in the good and bad, watch Him bring you greater strength and gratefulness than you ever knew possible.
READ: Luke 17:11-19 (TPT) “Jesus traveled on toward Jerusalem and passed through the border region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one village, ten men approached him, but they kept their distance, for they were lepers. They shouted to him, “Mighty Lord, our wonderful Master! Won’t you have mercy on us and heal us?” When Jesus stopped to look at them, he spoke these words: “Go to be examined by the Jewish priests.” They set off, and they were healed while walking along the way. One of them, a foreigner from Samaria, when he discovered that he was completely healed, turned back to find Jesus, shouting out joyous praises and glorifying God. When he found Jesus, he fell down at his feet and thanked him over and over, saying to him, “You are the Messiah.” This man was a Samaritan. “So where are the other nine?” Jesus asked. “Weren’t there ten who were healed? They all refused to return to give thanks and give glory to God except you, a foreigner from Samaria?” Then Jesus said to the healed man lying at his feet, “Arise and go. It was your faith that brought you salvation and healing.”
PRAY: Remind me today of your goodness God. I am so thankful for your sacrifice. I am so thankful that I am chosen by you. I need you and your faithfulness. I trust you with my life. I trust you with my family. I trust you with my future. I trust you with my relationships. God help me to never lose sight of your mercy and kindness. You are the greatest Father and Friend.
LISTEN: SPIRIT LEAD ME / SPIRIT BREAK OUT - INFLUENCE MUSIC